Asian Games 2026: Day 6 Report — China Extends Dominance as India Enjoys a Golden Day

 

The sixth day of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, produced another packed programme of competition, with China continuing to establish a commanding lead at the top of the medal table. Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan remained the other major forces near the top, while Iran also strengthened its position. India enjoyed a particularly productive day, with shooting providing a gold and a silver, while the country also progressed strongly in kabaddi, hockey, squash and table tennis. 

China continued its overwhelming dominance. The Chinese contingent added six gold medals during the day's competition and remained comfortably ahead of the field. China was particularly successful in shooting, rowing and canoe sprint. The men's 50m rifle 3 positions team of China won gold ahead of India, while Jiang Yiting and Lyu Jianlin captured the mixed-team skeet title. In rowing, Chinese athletes also collected several gold medals, including Deng Zhiwei in the men's single sculls and the Chinese men's double-sculls crew. China also took gold in the women's kayak four 500m and men's canoe double 500m. By the latest Day 6 standings, China had 86 gold, 31 silver and 20 bronze medals for 137 overall. 

Host nation Japan maintained second place and enjoyed several important performances on home soil. Japan's men's table-tennis team had already produced one of the major stories of the Games by defeating China 3-2 for its first Asian Games men's team gold in 60 years, with Sora Matsushima winning the decisive fifth match. On the sixth day, Japan remained prominent in swimming and other disciplines, adding to its substantial medal collection. The host nation stood on 22 gold, 36 silver and 39 bronze medals, giving it 97 medals overall. 

South Korea remained third with a strong showing across shooting, canoe sprint, gymnastics and swimming. Yeo Seojeong won the women's vault gold in gymnastics, while the Korean men's kayak four secured gold in the 500m event. South Korean shooters Hong Suhyeon and Choo Gaeun pushed India hard in the 10m air-pistol mixed-team final before taking silver behind Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet. South Korea's medal tally stood at 11 gold, 14 silver and 29 bronze, for 54 medals overall. 

Kazakhstan continued to hold fourth place, with its strength spread across several sports rather than being concentrated in one discipline. Kazakh athletes added medals in canoe sprint and other events, including a bronze in the men's canoe double 500m and another bronze in the women's kayak four 500m. Kazakhstan's tally reached 8 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals, giving the Central Asian nation 27 medals overall. �

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Uzbekistan remained fifth and continued to be a significant medal force. The Uzbek contingent collected silver medals in canoe sprint and rowing, including the men's single sculls, where Shakhboz Kholmurzaev finished second behind China's Deng Zhiwei. Uzbekistan also took silver in the women's kayak four 500m. Its tally rose to 6 gold, 15 silver and 8 bronze medals, or 29 medals in all. 

Iran also remained among the leading six nations. Iranian athletes added to their medal collection in shooting, with Vahid Golkhandan and Haniyeh Rostamiyan winning bronze in the 10m air-pistol mixed team event. Iran's delegation stood on 6 gold, 11 silver and 6 bronze medals, giving it 23 medals overall. 

India had one of its most significant days of the Games. The headline came from the shooting range, where Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event with 484.6 points. They defeated South Korea's Hong Suhyeon and Choo Gaeun, who scored 478.0, while Iran took bronze. The Indian pair had also topped qualification with 587 points and set an Asian Games record in the final. 

India added another shooting medal when Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil and Niraj Kumar won silver in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions team event. China took gold with 1,766 points, four points ahead of India's 1,762, while South Korea secured bronze with 1,751. 

Beyond the medals, India had several important results. Both the men's and women's kabaddi teams reached their respective finals, defeating Thailand and Nepal respectively in the semifinals. The women's hockey team also defeated hosts Japan 3-1 to maintain a perfect record and qualify for the semifinals. In squash, Anahat Singh reached the women's singles semifinal, while Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar secured a mixed-doubles medal. Diya Chitale and Manush Shah also assured India a medal in mixed doubles table tennis. 

At the end of Day 6, India had 19 medals — 2 gold, 8 silver and 9 bronze — and was placed 12th in the medal standings in the latest available table. The two gold medals had come from the women's cricket team and the Suruchi Singh-Kamaljeet shooting pair. Shooting had become India's biggest medal-producing discipline, while the qualification of both kabaddi teams for the finals and strong performances in hockey, squash and table tennis provided further opportunities for medals.